Mumbai, - Manchester Virgin Airways & BA. February 2026

 8th February 2026

We were off the ship by 09:00 and collected our cases from the new terminal building. 

Then got a taxi to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Towers Mumbai to check in to the tower. 

Obviously we were to early to check in but hoped to drop off the cases. As it was I was offered an early check-in for £25.00. So took it was was shown to a room on the 19th floor of The Tower. 

Went to Leopold Café on got some delicious lunch, admiring the cakes and bullet holes in the windows!!

Leopold Cafe

then spent the afternoon by the pool. 

9th -10th February 2026

Walking around Mumbai turned out to be far faster than being in a car. We walked all over the city, both during the day then in the evening.

Admiring the colonial buildings as well as the new ones. We enjoyed the Sunday night light show on the Gateway to India. 

Then all to soon it was time to get an early morning taxi to Mumbai Airport to get the 10:40 Virgin flight to London Heathrow. VS 0355. A day flight in Premium Economy - paid for with points as Virgin Points do not expire. 

The flight was OK, seats were good, again the aircraft was not full. Food was awful. Wine served in a can (?). But it was a day flight with good seats and window blinds I could control. in other words keep open to see daylight. 

At Heathrow, bags collected we got the train to Terminal 5 to get the BA flight to Manchester - paid for with points 😁. Again, the flight was almost empty. 

From Manchester it was a train, then Taxi home. It was a long day as it was still the 10th February.